Tennis great Billie Jean King's mother dies in Arizona

February 07, 2014|Reuters

By Laila Kearney

Feb 7 (Reuters) - The mother of American tennis great BillieJean King, who stayed near her ailing parent rather than join anofficial U.S. delegation attending the Sochi Winter Olympics inRussia, died on Friday at her home in Arizona, King's spokesmansaid.

Betty Moffitt, 91, died in Prescott with her two children ather side, publicist Tip Nunn said in a statement. There was noimmediate word on the cause of death.

Moffitt, who was born in the hard-scrabble oil-drilling townof Taft, California, raised King and son Randy Moffitt in nearbySan Bernardino. She moved to Prescott, about 100 miles northwestof Phoenix, 27 years ago. Her husband of 65 years, Bill Moffitt,died in 2006.

The family has planned private funeral services.

King, who won dozens of major titles over her career, playeda major role in gaining recognition and respect for women'stennis.

She was one of three openly gay U.S. athletes appointed byPresident Barack Obama to a special U.S. delegation, along withskating champion Brian Boitano and ice hockey medalist CaitlinCahow, sent to the opening Olympic ceremonies in Sochi.

But the White House announced on Wednesday that King wouldbe unable to attend the event due to her mother's failinghealth.

Obama has said the inclusion of King, Boitano and Cahow inthe U.S. Olympics delegation was intended to send a boldstatement against anti-gay laws that have been enacted in Russiawith the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.